Dear Graduating Seniors, +JMJ
Congratulations upon your graduation! What an accomplishment! The whole parish is proud of you, and we wish you the best of God’s fruitfulness as you take your next step in life. You have been a blessing to our parish. If you are heading off to college, please quickly look up the college Newman Center, or the local FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) if that exists on campus. Newman Centers are simply the Catholic university parishes. They got named “Newman Center” after John Henry Cardinal Newman, who wrote a famous book entitled, The Idea of a University. Also, if you are going away for college and would like a hardcopy bulletin sent to you, please notify the parish office. Of course, you can download our parish app to stay in touch; and there you will find an electronic form of the bulletin, as well as the weekly homily in audio form, church news, daily readings for your personal prayer time, etc., etc. Please make a determined effort to keep the Faith while you are away for college. You will be very glad you did. We want to help you from back home to do that as best we can.
The same goes for anybody staying here after graduation. You are a great gift to the parish, and we really hope to see you regularly. There are all kinds of opportunities to take responsibility in the parish and offer your talent. Keep up a strict routine of prayer, and make the Faith your own. We are always ready in the office to help you along your faith journey in whatever way you need. Please do not hesitate to contact us. That includes if you or somebody you know has a serious need that we could put on the prayer line. Feel free to call the office with that intention.
Finally, please surround yourself with friends who will always help you become holier and more whole. That goes for anybody leaving for college, and anybody staying in the area. We need healthy fellowship in our lives. Recognize the people you know are the friends-for-life type; and you can mutually enrich each other and call each other to the higher ground of holiness.
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May He make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
(Numbers 6:24-26)
In cordibus Iesu et Mariae,
Father Poggemeyer
